The Prolific Oven opened its doors in 1980. The original owner, Harriet Spier, rolled out desserts of her own creation. The popularity of her cakes landed the shop on local best-of lists.

In 1996, Regina Chan's parents purchased the bakery, as reported by the Almanac. The family continued to make Spier's classic desserts from scratch, like chocolate and carrot cakes, which are still served today.

The Chans expanded the bakery to other locations in Saratoga, Fremont, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale, and broadened its menu to offer coffee and sandwiches.

While the shop in Palo Alto is more south than other recently shuttered, beloved, iconic and historic institutions in San Francisco, it appears that the same fate awaits many longtime businesses no matter where they are located in the Bay Area.